Reviews by Morris729:

Pours a dark mahogany color with a creamy light tan head that leaves heavy sheets of lace on the walls of the glass as it recedes. Nose is reminiscent of honey graham crackers along with some dark fruit and a bit of spicy alcohol. Taste is rich caramel malt and molasses along with some strong raisiny notes and a touch of cinnamon. A bit of warming alcohol is detectable in the finish. Nicely done.

More User Reviews:

Poured into an oversized wine glass a deep mahogany color with deep amber tint showing thru a well formed but quick to fade off white head atop.Alot of stuff going on aroma wise first of I picked up notes of spiced cherry and caramel with underlying dark fruit and molasses a definent malt bomb to say the least hear,full near syrupy mouthfeel its sweetness coats the mouth after a bit.Quite sweet on the palate molasses really sticks out with prune/raisin qualities showing themselves and a bit of dark cola after awhile a faint earthiness comes in the aftertaste just a bare touch though.This is a late night sipper, Iam sipping it now watching the snow squalls come thru....only fitting.

Cheers to Don Oliver for this win, and for bringing such an underrated beer style to the forefront. We set aside a few bottles of this simply to see how it ages. At 10.6 percent ABV, we're sure it will age quite well over the next year or so.

Viscous, rolling head leaves a cream-colored lace to wrap around the inside of the glass; not much stickage, though the lace does hold its ground. Deep, tawny brown brew has a glowing clarity when put up to the light. Rich and fragrant aroma of ripe figs, spicy, flowery hops, caramel and a candied-fruit ester from the alcohol. Thick, creamy mouthfeel from a syrupy body with mild carbonation. The taste buds bask in maltiness as the brew reaches cellar temperature; an adequate amount of hops helps balance things. Dark bread, brown sugar, figs, ripe pears and a hint of apple skin. Substantial but mellow alcohol warms the mouth and throat after each sip. Clean, with a kiss of fruity esters. More of a toasted-grain flavor middle to end, with a lingering maltiness.

This is such an incredible brew, and one to sip and savor. Throw any kind of veined cheese at this beer with some ripe figs, tart apples and a fresh baguette.

Easily my personal favorite from the Long Shot series. A medium brown color with a thin head and a little lacing. It had a sweet, fruity aroma, as well as a little caramel. Wonderful taste: fruit, chocolate, malt, a little bit of hops. The alcohol is well-hidden. A very smooth, balanced beer.

This is the beer that demanded I purchase this mixed sixer...
Rust brown, with a beautiful mahogany color as some natural light passes thru...less than half a finger of off-white head.
Tight lacing generated quickly, but fades just as fast...the brew itself is quite clear.
Plums up front with some toasted malt in the nose and some cherries in the back end.
Taste is even better...rum raisins, floral hops, cherry twizlers, a warming alcohol that is not harsh and no way showing itself as high as the abv indicates.
Mouthfeel is full bodied and the carbonation is a touch high.
Easy to consume, but one to respect.
Hint to Sam Adams...allow this beer to be a seasonal.

Dark red color with an off-white head that leaves a nice sticky lacing. Aroma is vinous, bits of cherry, hint of nutmeg, brown sugar, and some alcohol is noticeable, too. Taste of caramel, brown sugar, some dark fruit, and a small amount of earthy hops.
Soft carbonation and full bodied, some alcohol in the finish. A solid brew from the folks at BBC; I'd like to see this one find its way to regular rotation.

poured into a nonic glass from a 12oz long necked brown bottle with a crimped-on cap.

Clear mahogany with an intense red hue,very tall tan head,very creamy with good retention with curtians of lace down the glass

A very complex and pleasing aroma. Very sweet and fruity,candy-like,perfumy,maltyness that's carmelly,nutty and a sweet toffee note.Complex fruityness with notes of raisin/fig and plum.

Sweet, tangy, with a roasty nuttiness with a candied carmell taste. Very fruity with a warming alcohol effect, a kind of cough syrup taste.Finishes boozy with lots of fruityness.

A thick mouthfeel,chewy,very cloying. The drinkabilty is limited with the thickness and boozyness. Could drink a couple but not much more. This beer reminded me a lot of a Double Bock. I'd say give this beer a try while you can.

A- This beer has a crystal clear but very dense deep walnut brown body with a thin ring of head. There are tiny bubbles of carbonation slowly gliding to the surface. There is a soft glow from light shining through the base of the glass.

S- This beer has a smooth note of dark malt with strong pot caramel notes and a hint of cardboard as it warms, but overall not much depth.

T- This beer has flavors of pot caramel with a soft wet cardboard note and some nougat flavors. The notes of dark raisins and dark run are soft with a slight sweetness. There is a soft spicy heat in the finish but I don't really notice an alcohol taste.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a slightly watery texture and a tiny fizz in the finish that masks the alcohol heat.

D- This beer has a very smooth and lagered quality about it and there is very little depth to the malt flavors. The alcohol taste and heat are missing which I like to have in 10% or higher beers unless they have been well aged. I wouldn't recommend aging this beer for any amount of time as I don't think it will hold up.

Aww...this is hard....Old ale is my favorite style so also one that I am most familiar with and critical of. This brew is also created by a student in California...my home state.
Ok...I'll try.
Pours a beautiful clear mahogany with a half finger tan head that lasts a very long time and leaves a sticky lacing in it's wake.
Aromas are dark fruits...raisins mostly..a hint of dark brown sugar and alcohol.
Taste is very complex...dark fruits...brown sugar...slight hops...alcohol.
Mouthfeel is a little thin and aftertaste is a little too much...like the brew has gone stale, although I know it hasn't.
Overall, a wonderful Stock Ale but a little watery for the style and a touch too much aftertaste. Would have liked a little more hops in the tail end.
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Edit 5/27/07
This beer has a few months on it now and it is maturing nicely. Unfortunately I think this is my last bottle. I would like to try it again in 6 months to a year because I am very impressed with how it has aged so far.
Much smoother and far more blended than when it was 'fresh'...
While originally I thought it was an excellent attempt at the style (my favorite) by a home brewer, with 6 months age it is now an excellent example of the style...PERIOD...without qualification.
Great stuff.
I am now changing my points based upon todays tasting.

Not much of a head to this one but pleasant clear rudy-brown color. Aroma on the other hand has some yummy depth in there. Smells like cherries, chocolate, spice, creamy caramel, and warmth. There doesn't seem to be a giant range of flavors and aromas but basic as they seem, they are thoroughly drawn out. Soft and smooth, full, and well blended. Taste matches the smell with caramel chocolate cherries, but is complimented by resiny, floral, and bittering hops which become more apparent in flavor. Smooth elongated, slightly caramel-esque mouthfeel which adds a candy-likeness to it. Also, drinkability is great for an almost 11% brew.

AP: What a beautifully deep mahogony color with ruby-red hues...really good looking. Very active and lively, many bubbles streaming up to create a 1/8" deep, totally even and creamy muddy-white colored head.

Nose: A very aromatic Sweet and herbal malt scent with nuts, cinnemon and a tangy fruit effect. Heavy malt on the nose, alcohol heat tingles the nose.

Taste: Wow, A very rich, buttery molasses malted flavor, nice complexity that includes: Smoked oak and caramalized malts, with an herbal, earthy and mildly bitter hop effect that balances this out very well. Subtle flavors are: Roasted nuts, burnt caramel, and a tangy and sour aftertaste that mellows to a leafy hop flavor lingring on the back of the palate.

MF: Full bodied indeed! Thick and syruppy, slick and smooooth, almost sticky.

DA: This was my favorite of the three "longshots" home brew's. This is easily one of favorite brews in the last year or so. I'm very impressed. I'm feeling the 10.6 % ABV, even from just this 12 oz'er. Nice job Don.

Pours a clear deep dark mahogony with a giant foamy tan head. The head is long lasting and leaves great lacing. The smell is pungent with alcohol and dark fruit. Their is also a malt sweetness to this beer making the nose very complex. The taste has alot of roasted malt along with alcohol,dark fruit,and vanilla. A nice mixture of flavors that combined make a first class beer. The m/f is heavy and well mixed making this a top notch beer.

Appearance: A gorgeous ruby color with some plum highlights to add to the darkness of the brew. With some swirls, some absolutely gorgeous lacing akin to pointalism is left all around the glass, and the outeredge'd ring keeps thick and off-white.

Smell: Rich and complex, with molasses, vanilla, honey, dark maple, brown sugar, candied raisins, hints of figs, dark bread, caramel richness. Not only are all of these aromas present, but they're volatile and balanced. I don't get much hops, but they're probably in there somewhere. This is like a liquid cake better at the finest bakery around.

Taste: I have to say, everything from the aroma really comes together in the taste wonderfully, with the long finish of dessert sweetness and a bit of citrus hops for good measure. What I really love about this is that in its seemingly young stage, there's not much hop presence to mask the richness that would, I think, ordinarily come out after it's in the cellar for a bit. Here, though, there's enough hops by the finish not to make it syrupy or too rich, but there's also a complete mask of the alcohol, which baffles me. Wonderful stuff all around, and unfortunately way to easy to drink, 10.6% ABV or not.

Mouthfeel: Luscious and coating without feeling cloying or nearly too rich in the least, and enough carbonation to also contribute without making itself either too known or too little known.

Drinkability: Certainly the best of the 3 Longshot brews, and quite easily the best Old Ale I've had in a long time. The worst thing about this is that I only have one more bottle. I'd love to see this as a seasonal staple, though sadly I doubt that will ever happen. Maybe it's time to lay the other one down and savor the fact that I still have it to drink eventually.

I like old ales, enough to want to drink a 10.6% 330 ml on my own. A bit of fizz on top of barleywine rosewood colour. looks like a vintage ale. Neutral on mouthfeel, there was a bit of active carbonation that I think would dissapear if aged longer, but I am going by the June expirey. Well malted, though a drop of soapiness in the finish. Satisfying and well done.

Easily the jewel in this year's LongShot line, Don Oliver's Old Ale delivers a remarkably balanced, rich, and malty ale.

It's clear, ruby-accented mahogany body is topped by a massive head of frothy tan foam that settles slowly into a thick finger of creaminess. The head retention is excellent, and it leaves remarkable lace throughout almost the entire glass.

The welcomes you with a solid hand shake of deeply caramelized malt and a sparkle of vinous fruitiness. There are notes of brown sugar, sweet red wine, and damp fallen leaves.

The first sip is rich and full and almost overwhelming... this one's definitely a sipper!!! Dark fruits (plum, prune, fig, black cherry, raisin) combine with dark sugars (brown sugar - deeply caramelized - but not scorched, molasses, even a touch of maple) within a rich, bready and toasty malt base. Some dark cocoa appears, almost like a warm, soft brownie at the swallow; and its rigid bitterness calls for notice from below. Suddenly, the cocoa vanishes, and some vinous and sherry-like character appears in the finish. A wide smear of leafy hops step in, along with a smudge of herbal character, and from there it simply lingers, slowly ebbing away with dull notes of dark cherry skins and apple. The alcohol never really makes an impression, although its influence is seen in the black cherry, sherry, and red wine characteristics.

Superbly done! Incredibly impressive!!!! If you enjoy old ales or even strong ales or barleywines DO NOT LET THIS ONE PASS YOU BY!!!!

Appearance: One and a half finger head after pour, which lasted quite a while. Nice lacing. Beer is dark brown with a hint of dark orange when held to the light.

Smell: Very strong malty smell escapes the beer. Also a bit of cherry and minor hops in there.

Taste: Nice malty taste that lingers. Somewhat bittersweet taste. Alcohol is definitely noticable going down the hatch. There's also a bit of a smoky taste there.

Mouthfeel/drinkability: For some reason, this beer has a somewhat oily feel to it. It goes down nicely. But, it is strong and to me, a sipping beer. Not a session. Overall, I'm impressed. I can't compare it to the other homebrews in the pack as this is my first one. But, I like it and would drink it again.

Hey hey, I'm impressed by this old ale.Nutty, cherry aroma at first. Taste is right on style. Big, dry barley fruit flavors without much alcohol evident. My only knock is that the flavor doesn't come off as terribly complex. I've never really considered myself an old ale type of guy, but this is pretty good. At over 10% it's not overly thick or sweet, making very drinkable - relatively speaking. I look forward to m second bottle of this. I hope I have the patience to let it age.

Pours a nice mahogany color with a frothy tan head that leaves nice lacing...beauty of a beer. The aroma is also impressive with notes of sherry, date, fig, blackberry, molasses, some roastiness, a slight earthy hoppiness and a hint of alcohol. The flavor is similar to the aroma with a huge malt character, notes of fig, date, blackberry, molasses, burnt bread, sherry, nutmeg and plum. The mouthfeel is medium with light carbonation and excellent drinkability with little to no alcohol presence. An excellent old ale, drinkable and not overbearing with alcohol.

Poured a clear, deep burgundy. 1/2 inch head development, but no head retention. Carbonation appears minimal and lazy. Smell is very malty with a bourbon-like vanilla character and alcoholic spiciness. Aroma is so volatile that one can smell this beer from across the room. Taste is very, very sweet with the same bourbon-like vanilla character detected in the aroma. No hop presence at all. This beer tastes barrel-aged, but the label on the bottle makes no mention of this. Mouthfeel is syrupy and sticky; slightly cloying. Mildly carbonated. Very warming due to the high abv. Drinkability is average. I wouldn't want to drink more than two of these at time due to the strong flavors. The beer could use just a bit more hop character as this is overpowered by its huge maltiness and additional carbonation would be nice also.

Presentation: Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a snifter. Label depicts the brewer and gives a brief description of him and the beer. BEst by date of June 2007, although at 10.6%, this one is definitely age-worthy.

Appearance: Pours with 1 1/2 inches of creamy, tan head that settles slowly to a thin layer of foam with a ton of lacing. The beer itslef is a beautiful ruby color.

Taste: Very sweet, almost syrupy. Flavors presnt in smell (brown sugar, molasses, and plums) are present, but lack depth; seem to give way to plain sugar sweetness. Alcohol is warming, but not very present in taste.

Mouthfeel: Average carbonation level. Body is decent.

Drinkability: Started out great, but went downhill after smell. Too sweet and cloying. Maybe I will save the other bottle for a year or two and see what happens with some oxidation.